US medics John Flanagan and Matthew Stevenson pumped oxygen into the stricken passenger's lungs for 45 minutes when she began struggling to breathe

By Jon Lockett

4th February 2018, 8:01 pm

Updated: 4th February 2018, 10:59 pm

TWO quick-thinking plane passengers sprang into action to save a woman's life by cobbling together a makeshift respiratory device as the aircraft made an emergency landing.

Medics John Flanagan and Matthew Stevenson pumped oxygen into the stricken passenger's lungs for 45 minutes when she slumped over and began struggling to breathe.

Passengers grabbed the two docs as the plane made an emergency landing

The mid-air drama was revealed in a Facebook post by Xenia Flanagan - the proud wife of one of the high-flying heroes.

Xenia, who lives in Jacksonville, Florida, told how the worrying incident happened just 20 minutes into a JetBlue flight to Jamaica on January 6.

She wrote: "An elderly woman began to struggle to breath..a near by nurse jumped into action and tried to no avail to help her when Matthew (one of John’s partners) noticed the seriousness of the situation and intervened.

"He flagged John down for help as the lady went into complete respiratory arrest.

Anaesthesiologists John Flanagan and Matthew Stevenson have now been labelled heroes

The high-flying heroes made a makeshift breathing device out of mask

"These two men used the oxygen tanks on board along with airbags to create the tools they needed to save her.. they pushed oxygen into her lungs for 45 mins in the middle of the aisle as the plane made an emergency landing to Ft Lauderdale.

"It was both amazing and terrifying at the same time to witness my husband and his friend do something they do everyday..save someone’s life.

"It was beautiful to witness so many good samaritans praying and holding them up during the entire ordeal. I’m so thankful God placed them there at the right time.

"I know I can speak for Jessica Nauman Stevenson when I say how proud we are to be married to such great men."

Emergency crews were called onto the jet when it landed at Fort Lauderdale

Xenia Flanagan revealed her husband's heroics on Facebook

One of the heroes later spoke of his life-saving intervention.

"The woman had a lung disease and when we got to the high altitude she just couldn't breathe," Mr Flanagan later told the Mirror.co.uk.

"We were asking the crew if they had anything we would usually use to help a person in respiratory arrest but they didn't have a lot on the plane.

"They had masks (in the ceiling) but they were not the sort of masks you could use to help her."

The docs then managed to cut the tubing that holds the oxygen masks to the ceiling of the aircraft and attach it to one of the oxygen tanks on board.

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